Pipe-clearing apparatus.



No. 747,089. PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903.

I -P. SGHALT.

PIPE CLEARING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. '7, 1903. I H0 MODEL. z sums-sum 1.

LVVE/VTOR PATENTED DEC. 15 190 3.

P; SGHALT. PIPE CLEARING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 N0 MODEL 4 .wu a/ R m h NC 6 P y J M 11nv55555- Patented December 15, 1903.

PETER SOHALT, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

PlPE CLEARlNG APPARATU$.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 747,089, dated December 15, 1903.

Application filed February 7, 1903. Serial No. 142.376- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- Be it known that 1, PETER SOHALT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paterson, in

the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Clearing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pipe-clearing apparatus, the object in view being to provide a simple and reliable portable apparatus adapted to be mounted adjacent to the entrance to a pipe and connected therewith in such manner that when put in operation the pipe may be cleared of all obstructing matter which may be accumulated therein and which prevents the flow of liquid therethrough.

The apparatus hereinafter described is adapted to operate, either by compressing and forcing air through the pipe or by sue: tion with the aid of a vacuum established in a tank which forms part of the apparatus, and for that purpose the tank is provided with a reversible check-valve which, together with a suitable pump, will enable air to be compressed in the tank or exhausted therefrom, so as to produce a vacuum.

The apparatus also comprises a novel form of cap for covering the entrance to the pipe to be cleared and a clamp for holding said cap in close air-tight connection with the pipe entrance.

With the above and other objects in View, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus complete shown applied to an ordinary kitchen-sink. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the apparatus with the exception of the clamp. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the clamp. Fig. a is a bottom plan view of the cap. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the cap. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown applied to acloset. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the apparatus with the exceptionof the clamp. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the clamp and strap for anchoring the same to the bowl. Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the cap used in connection with the apparatus shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of the reversible checkvalve.

Like reference-numerals designate correspondin g parts in all the figures of the drawlogs.

The apparatus contemplated in this invention comprises, essentially, a compression or vacuum tank 1, having connected therewith a pipe 2, which leads to an air-compressor or exhaust-pump and forms the pipe connection between the pump and tank. At the point of junction between the connection 2 and the tank 1 there is placed a reversible checkvalve 3, the same having a threaded engagement with the tank 1 and connection 2, so that it 'may be disconnected from said parts and reversed or turned end for end, thus enabling the check-valve to operate in one direction or the other, as may be required. When the pn mp is used to compress air in the tank, the check-valve will open inwardly or toward the tank, so as to admit the air from the pumpand prevent the same from escapingin the back stroke of the pump. When the pump is used to exhaust air from the tank, the check-valve is reversed, so as to open outwardly or away from the tank, thereby permitting the air to be withdrawn from the tank by the operation of the pump, said valve preventing the air from rentering the tank in the back stroke of the pump. 3

Extending out of the bottom portion of the tank 1 is an air-pipe 4.,which is controlled by a stopcock 5, so that communication there.- through may be entirely out ofi. Arranged at the lowerend of the pipe 4 is a cap 6, which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is made in the form of a cone having an expanded lower portion terminating in an inverted-V-shaped rim 7, which provides a groove or seat in which is placed a rubber gasket 8, as shown in Fig. 5.

The cap 6 is connected with the pipe 4 by means of a flexible pipe-section 9, preferably of heavy rubber. The ends of the section 9 receive and fit over the extremities of the pipe 4 and the neck 10 of the cap 6, the connection between said parts being made secure by means of clamping-rings 11, which embrace the ends of the flexible pipe-section- 9 and bind the same closely and firmly around the extremities of the pipe 4 and the neck 10 of the cap 6, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The cap 6 is adapted to fit around the opening in a sink, as illustrated in Fig. 1, so as to completely cover the entrance to the wastepipe shown at 12. In order to hold the cap tightly against the floor of the sink, as shown in Fig. 1, I employ a clamp 13, comprising an upper overhanging arm 14 and a lower arm 15, adapted to project beneath the sink, the said arms being formed in one vvithaconnecting-bar 16. The extremity of the'overhanging arm 14 is provided with a forked crown or yoke 17, substantially semicircular in shape and having terminal fork-blades 18, which are of suitable length and which extend downward to bear upon the rim of the cap 6, the extremities of said blades being notched, as shown at 19, to form V-shaped recesses which correspond with the cross-sectional shape of the rim 7 of the cap and by engaging said rim at diametrically opposite points serve to press the cap in close fluidtight contact with the floor of the sink, so as to prevent passage of air between the cap and sink; Any desired pressure may be brought to bear on the cap 6 for holding the same against the sink by means of the clamp-screw 20, with which the clamp is provided, said screw being arranged to bear against the-bottom of the sink.

7 When the apparatus hereinabo ve described is used in connection with a closet, it is necessary to employ a cap of different shape. Such a cap is illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and 9,wherein the cap is shown as semicircular at one end, as at 21, and square or rectangular at the other end 22. In all other respects, however, the cap shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 9 is the same as that illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the cap having an inverted-V-shaped rim 7, which receives the rubber gasket and forms a bearing for the notched extremities of the forkblades of the clamp. Under the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 it is also necessary to employ a clamp which differs in construction and arrangement from that shown in Fig. 3, but involves the same principle. By reference to Figs. 6 and 8 it will be seen that the clamp comprises an elongated fork crown or yoke 23, having an ofiset and substantially semicircular portion 24 to partially surround the flexible pipe-section 9. Extending downward from the crown 23 are the fork-blades 25, having their lower ends notched to lit the rim 7 of the cap. Two clamp-screws 26 are employed, the same being adj ustably connected with the ends of the crown or yoke 23 and provided at their lower ends with hooks 27, which are detachably received in eye pieces 28, connected with a flexible band or strap 29, adapted to be securely fastened around the bowl, (shown at 30 in Fig. 6,) said strap or band being provided with a buckle 31 or similar fastening device.

In operation the cap is secured in place so as to cover the entrance to the pipe to be cleared. The stop-cock 5 is then closed, and air is compressed in the tank 1 to any desired pressure. The stop-cock 5 is then opened, and the compressed air is forced into the pipe to be cleared, carrying with it the clogging material therein. Should this prove ineffective, the stop-cock 5 is again closed, the checkvalve is reversed, and the pump is arranged to exhaust air from the tank 1. After a vacuum to the necessary degree has been established in said tank the stop-cock 5 is opened, thus producing a suction which will draw the obstructions or accumulated material from the pipe to be cleared. The operation of forcing air into the pipe or exhausting air therefrom may be repeated alternately, and any desired pressure may be used until the pipe is thoroughly clear of obstructing matter from end to end. Either form of cap may be connected with the flexible pipe-section 9 by means of the clamping-band at the lower end of said section, according to the use to which the apparatus is to be put.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A pipe-clearing apparatus comprising a compressed-air tank, a pump connection for said tank, an exteriorly-located reversible check-valve interposed between the tank and connection, a cap having a tubular connection with the tank and adapted to cover the entrance of the pipe to be cleared, and a clamp for holding the cap in place and comprising depending notched devices to engage the rim of the cap.

2. A pipe-clearing apparatus comprising a compressed-air tank, a cap connected therewith by a flexible tubular connection, a stopcock controlling said connection and located adjacent to the bottom of the tank, a clamp for holding the cap in position relatively to the pipe to be cleared, a pump associated with the tank, and an exteriorly-located reversible check-valve secured to the upper portion of the tank and interposed between the latter and the pump. M

3. A pipe-clearing apparatus comprising a tank, a cap communicating therewith and provided with a V-shaped rim, a gasket fitting in the hollow side of said rim, and a clamp for holding the cap in place said clamp comprising a fork having notched blades which fit over the V-shaped rim of the cap and bear against the same at diametrically opposite points.

4. A pipe-clearing apparatus comprising a tank, a cap in communication therewith and provided with a V-shaped rim, a gasket fitting in the hollow side of said rim, a clamp provided with a crown or fork having terminally-notched blades adapted to engage the rim of the cap and bear against the same at metrically opposite points, and one or more IO diametrically opposite points, and means for clamp-screws for fastening the clamp in pofastening the clamp in position. sition, substantially as described.

5. A pipe-clearing apparatus comprising a In testimony whereof I affix my signature tank, a cap in communication therewith and in presence of two witnesses.

provided with a rim having a gasket, a clamp PETER SOHALT. comprising a crown or yoke having termi- Witnesses: nally-notched blades which engage the rim JAMES G. BLAUVELT,

of the cap and bear against the same at dia- WALTER A. BERGSTREM. 

